Biological and Psychosocial Stress Sensitivity in Depressed and At-Risk Individuals

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kimberly A. Dienes ◽  
Bethany Apa
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
Psychosocial Stress ◽  
Stress Sensitivity

Chronic Stress Accelerates and Intensifies Aß-induced Alzheimer’s-disease-like Pathogenesis in Rat Models

US Neurology ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 06 (01) ◽  
pp. 32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karim A Alkadhi ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
At Risk ◽  
Synaptic Plasticity ◽  
Chronic Stress ◽  
Psychosocial Stress ◽  
Signaling Molecules ◽  
Aβ Peptides ◽  
Rat Models ◽  
Chronic Psychosocial Stress

Apart from genetic factors, environmental factors such as stress may also play a critical role in the manifestation of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). We studied the impact of chronic psychosocial stress in two amyloid-beta (Aβ) rat models of AD by three approaches: learning and memory tests in the radial arm water maze, electrophysiological recordings of long-term potentiation (LTP) in anesthetized rats, and immunoblot analysis of synaptic plasticity- and cognition-related signaling molecules. The first Aβ rat model, representing established AD, was induced by continuous intracerebroventricular (ICV) infusion of a pathogenic dose of Aβ peptides via a 14-day osmotic pump. In this AD model, chronic stress intensified cognitive deficits, produced more depression of LTP, and accentuated the reduction of signaling molecule levels compared with the established model alone. The second model represents subjects that are clinically normal but are at risk for AD, and was induced by ICV infusion of a sub-threshold (sub-Aβ) dose of Aβ peptides. Chronic psychosocial stress was induced using a rat intruder model. Various tests showed that sub-Aβ rats were not significantly different from control rats. However, chronically stressed sub-Aβ rats showed more significant impairment of cognitive functions and early-phase LTP than that caused by stress alone. Molecular analysis revealed marked disturbances in the levels of essential signaling molecules in the stressed AD at-risk rats. These findings suggest that chronic stress may profoundly accelerate and intensify the impairment of cognition and synaptic plasticity in individuals at risk for AD and those with established AD, respectively. Possible mechanisms for the effect of chronic stress are discussed.

Risk Factors for Postpartum Relapse in Women at Risk of Postpartum Psychosis: The Role of Psychosocial Stress and the Biological Stress System

2021 ◽  
pp. 105218
Author(s):  
Katie Hazelgrove ◽  
Alessandra Biaggi ◽  
Freddie Waites ◽  
Montserrat Fuste ◽  
Sarah Osborne ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
At Risk ◽  
Psychosocial Stress ◽  
Postpartum Psychosis ◽  
Stress System ◽  
Biological Stress

scholarly journals Who is at risk of poor mental health following COVID-19 outpatient management?

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katharina Hüfner ◽  
Piotr Tymoszuk ◽  
Dietmar Ausserhofer ◽  
Sabina Sahanic ◽  
Alex Pizzini ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
At Risk ◽  
Psychosocial Stress ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
De Novo ◽  
Clustering Algorithms ◽  
Survey Study ◽  
Self Organizing Map

Background: COVID-19 convalescents are at risk of developing a de novo mental health disorder or of worsening of a pre-existing one. The objectives of our study was to phenotype individuals at highest risk of mental health disorders among COVID-19 outpatients. Methods: We conducted a binational online survey study with adult non-hospitalized COVID-19 convalescents (Austria/AT: n=1157, Italy/IT: n= 893). Primary endpoints were positive screening for depression and anxiety (PHQ-4, Patient Health Questionnaire) and self-perceived overall mental health and quality of life rated with 4 point Likert scales. Psychosocial stress was surveyed with a modified PHQ stress module. Associations of the mental health with socio-demographic variables, COVID-19 course and recovery data were assessed by multi-parameter random forest and serial univariable modeling. Mental disorder risk subsets were defined by self-organizing map and hierarchical clustering algorithms. The survey analyses are publicly available (https://im2-ibk.shinyapps.io/mental_health_dashboard/). Results: In the study cohorts, 4.6 (IT)/6% (AT) of participants reported depression and/or anxiety before to infection. At a median of 79 days (AT)/96 days (IT) post COVID-19 onset, 12.4 (AT)/19.3% (IT) of subjects were screened positive for anxiety and 17.3 (AT)/23.2% (IT) for depression. Over one-fifth of the respondents rated their overall mental health (AT: 21.8%, IT: 24.1%) or quality of life (AT: 20.3%, IT: 25.9%) as fair or poor. In both study collectives, psychosocial stress, high numbers of acute and persistent COVID-19 complaints and the presence of acute neurocognitive symptoms (impaired concentration, confusion, forgetfulness) were the strongest correlates of deteriorating mental health and poor quality of life. In clustering analysis, these variables defined a high risk subset with particularly high propensity of post-COVID-19 mental health impairment and decreased quality of life. Pre-existing depression or anxiety was associated with an increased symptom burden during acute COVID-19 and recovery. Conclusion: Our study revealed a bidirectional relationship between COVID-19 symptoms and mental health. We put forward specific acute symptoms of the disease as red flags of mental health deterioration which should prompt general practitioners to identify COVID-19 patients who may benefit from early psychological and psychiatric intervention. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04661462.

Abstract 105: Increased Myocardial Sensitivity to Ischemic Injury in an Animal Model of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

2015 ◽  
Vol 117 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Boyd R Rorabaugh ◽  
Albert Bui ◽  
Sarah L Seeley ◽  
Anna Krivenko ◽  
Eric D Eisenmann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Myocardial Infarction ◽  
At Risk ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Animal Model ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress ◽  
Psychosocial Stress ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Area At Risk ◽  
Traumatic Memories ◽  
Postischemic Recovery

Background: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychological disorder characterized by the formation of traumatic memories following exposure to a life threatening event. In addition to psychological manifestations, PTSD promotes atherosclerosis and increases the incidence of myocardial infarction. However, it is unknown whether the effects of PTSD are limited to increasing the incidence of myocardial infarction or if PTSD also increases infarct severity. Therefore, we used an animal model of PTSD to determine whether posttraumatic stress influences infarct size and postischemic recovery of cardiac contractile function. Methods: Rats were subjected to a well-established animal model of PTSD that is based on predator exposure and psychosocial stress (Zoladz et al., Stress 11:259-281). Rats subjected to this model exhibit many PTSD-like characteristics including the formation of traumatic memories, increased anxiety, increased startle reflex, hypertension, and alterations in the hypothalamic-pituitary adrenal axis. Male rats (7 weeks of age) were either subjected to psychosocial stress (n = 9) or continuously housed in their home cages (n = 8) for 31 days. Hearts were subsequently isolated and subjected to 20 minutes of ischemia and 2 hours reperfusion on a Langendorff isolated heart system. Results: Stressed rats exhibited significantly elevated corticosterone concentrations and anxiety-like behavior in the elevated plus maze. Infarct sizes were significantly larger in hearts from stressed rats (44.7 ± 1.7 % of area at risk) compared to nonstressed rats (31.0 ± 5.4 % of area at risk). Consistent with increased myocardial injury, postischemic recovery of rate pressure product (stressed = 16,922 ± 1,554 mmHg*bpm; nonstressed = 26,407 ± 2,977 mmHg*bpm) and +dP/dT (stressed = 1,901 ± 189 mmHg/sec; nonstressed =3,259 ± 498 mmHg/sec) were significantly attenuated in hearts from stressed rats. Furthermore, postischemic end diastolic pressure was significantly elevated in hearts from stressed (57 ± 6 mmHg) compared to nonstressed (32 ± 7 mmHg) rats. Conclusion: This animal model suggests that PTSD may make the myocardium more sensitive to ischemic injury through a mechanism that is independent from its ability to promote atherosclerosis.

scholarly journals Adolescent adjustment in at-risk families: The role of psychosocial stress and parental socialization - Ajuste adolescente en familias en situación de riesgo: El rol del estrés psicosocial y de la socialización parental

Salud Mental ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bárbara Lorence Lara ◽  
Ma. Victoria Hidalgo García ◽  
Maja Dekovic
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
Psychosocial Stress ◽  
Adolescent Adjustment ◽  
Parental Socialization ◽  
Factores De Riesgo ◽  
Salud Mental

Introducción: El estudio de factores asociados con problemas internalizantes y externalizantes en adolescentes que viven en familias en riesgo es objeto de interés reciente en salud mental en España. La presencia de problemas de salud mental en menores y adolescentes es demasiado frecuente en estas familias debido a la alta y variada exposición a factores de riesgo, así como a la falta de elementos de protección que les rodean. Sin embargo, pocos estudios han examinado la contribución que factores específicos hacen a cada tipo de problemas de salud mental en adolescentes de familias españolas en riesgo. Este estudio intenta contribuir al conocimiento en este campo, analizando el papel de dos dimensiones frecuentemente relacionadas con el ajuste adolescente: estrés psicosocial y socialización parental. Asimismo, este estudio trata de identificar si ambas dimensiones predicen de forma diferente los dos tipos (internalizantes y externalizantes) de problemas de salud mental en adolescentes de familias en situación de riesgo. Metodología: La muestra se compone de 134 adolescentes españoles (56 chicas y 78 chicos) con una media de edad de 13.52 (DT=1.57). Estos adolescentes crecieron en familias que estaban recibiendo una intervención psicosocial por parte de los Servicios Sociales españoles por razones de preservación familiar. El diseño de esta investigación es de carácter transversal y descriptivo. Los instrumentos administrados permitieron recabar datos sobre problemas de salud mental, estrés psicosocial, socialización parental y la intervención recibida por los Servicios Sociales. Resultados: Los modelos de regresión múltiple jerárquica mostraron que ambos dominios (estrés psicosocial y socialización parental) estuvieron significativamente relacionados con los problemas de salud mental, pero emergió un patrón de resultados diferentes para cada tipo de problemas. Cuando la comorbilidad entre ambos problemas fue controlada, el estrés psicosocial estuvo significativamente relacionado con los problemas internalizantes, mientras que la socialización parental se asoció con los problemas externalizantes. Discusión y conclusiones: Este estudio subraya la importancia de distinguir entre los dos problemas de salud mental analizados y hace hincapié en que, tanto la mejora en la socialización de los progenitores como el entrenamiento de los adolescentes en habilidades sociales positivas que permitan afrontar adecuadamente acontecimientos estresantes, deben ser contenidos fundamentales en los programas de intervención destinados a familias en situación de riesgo psicosocial.

Phonological Awareness Screening to Identify At-Risk Readers

1998 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 109-116 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margie Gilbertson ◽  
Ronald K. Bramlett
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
Phonological Awareness ◽  
Reading Ability ◽  
At Risk Students ◽  
First Grade ◽  
Receptive Vocabulary ◽  
Standardized Assessments ◽  
Cutoff Score ◽  
Invented Spelling ◽  
Reading Measures

The purpose of this study was to investigate informal phonological awareness measures as predictors of first-grade broad reading ability. Subjects were 91 former Head Start students who were administered standardized assessments of cognitive ability and receptive vocabulary, and informal phonological awareness measures during kindergarten and early first grade. Regression analyses indicated that three phonological awareness tasks, Invented Spelling, Categorization, and Blending, were the most predictive of standardized reading measures obtained at the end of first grade. Discriminant analyses indicated that these three phonological awareness tasks correctly identified at-risk students with 92% accuracy. Clinical use of a cutoff score for these measures is suggested, along with general intervention guidelines for practicing clinicians.

Effects of a Supplemental Spanish Phonological Awareness Intervention on Latinx Preschoolers' Dual Language Emergent Literacy Skills

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 1283-1300
Author(s):  
Xigrid T. Soto ◽  
Andres Crucet-Choi ◽  
Howard Goldstein
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
Phonological Awareness ◽  
Emergent Literacy ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Literacy Instruction ◽  
Dual Language ◽  
Literacy Skills ◽  
Dual Language Learners ◽  
Probe Design ◽  
Emergent Literacy Skills

Purpose Preschoolers' phonological awareness (PA) and alphabet knowledge (AK) skills are two of the strongest predictors of future reading. Despite evidence that providing at-risk preschoolers with timely emergent literacy interventions can prevent academic difficulties, there is a scarcity of research focusing on Latinx preschoolers who are dual language learners. Despite evidence of benefits of providing Latinxs with Spanish emergent literacy instruction, few studies include preschoolers. This study examined the effects of a supplemental Spanish PA and AK intervention on the dual emergent literacy skills of at-risk Latinx preschoolers. Method A multiple probe design across four units of instruction evaluated the effects of a Spanish supplemental emergent literacy intervention that explicitly facilitated generalizations to English. Four Latinx preschoolers with limited emergent literacy skills in Spanish and English participated in this study. Bilingual researchers delivered scripted lessons targeting PA and AK skills in individual or small groups for 12–17 weeks. Results Children made large gains as each PA skill was introduced into intervention and generalized the PA skills they learned from Spanish to English. They also improved their English initial sound identification skills, a phonemic awareness task, when instruction was delivered in Spanish but with English words. Children made small to moderate gains in their Spanish letter naming and letter–sound correspondence skills and in generalizing this knowledge to English. Conclusion These findings provide preliminary evidence Latinx preschoolers who are dual language learners benefit from emergent literacy instruction that promotes their bilingual and biliterate development.

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